Cover



C. F. WRIGHT Aug. 13, 1940.

COVER TUCKNG MECHANISM FOR MATCH BOOKING MACHINES Filed May 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l VNK NW ff ms Hfowef @HM f Aug. 13, 1940. c. F. WRIGHT 2,211,359

COVER TUCKING MECHANISM FOR MATCH BOOKING MACHINES Filed May 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 13, 1940 COVER TUCKING ME BOOKING CHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Charles F. Wright, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Diamond Match Com corporation of Delaw Application May 4, 1

Claims.

This invention relates to match booking machines, having reference more especially to a type of booking machine equipped with means for closing the match book covers preparatory to the 5 discharge of the finished books. A machine of this type is illustrated in Patent No. 1,042,472 dated October 29, 1912, wherein the closing means comprises a bed or shelf upon which the match books, face upward, are imposed in succeeding order, the face of each book embodying a foldable cover flap and an end retaining fold therefor. Overhanging the bed or shelf is a fourmotion friction element which co-acts with the ap of each succeeding book in a manner to tuck the free end of the Hap under the retaining fold.

In closing the flexible cover flaps, particularly when varnished cover material is employed, considerable trouble has been experienced on account of the curling or distortion of the flaps while their ends are being forced under the retaining folds of the respective match books by means of the previous tucking mechanisms.

To overcome this objection is the object of my invention, and to that end I have provided the tucker element with simple and efficient ilap guiding means which, in a preferred form, will be hereinafter described; the scope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation of the delivery end of a match booking machine provided with a tucker element embodying my invention, the tucker being shown in its forward downward position at the completion of the tucking motion and the closed book being indicated as supported in its holder under the acting end of the tucker.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the book support and the adjacent tucker foot.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a tucker foot.

Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation of the companion book supports and the tucker feet in co-operative relation thereto, the feet being shown in raised position in respect to the match books.

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the tuckers in down or acting position.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, as on the line I--I of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the elastic base pads of a book holder.

Referring to the drawings, I El designates a portion of the main frame at the delivery end` of a match booking machine of the type referred to, and I I designates an intermittently movable chain of book carrying links from which, in the present pany, New York, N. Y., a

are

instance, succeeding pairs of books with outwardly extending closure flaps are ejected by means of a horizontally reciprocating plunger I2.

I3 designates an intermittently movable wheel which is located adjacent the path of the chain and is mounted to rotate in bearings on rearwardly extending brackets i4 bolted to the main frame. Formed in and around the periphery of the wheel are equally spaced pairs of radial pockets I5 into each succeeding pair of which in a dwell of the wheel the ejected books (B) are inserted by the action of the plunger I2, the closure flaps (f) of the respective books thus inserted extending outwardly from the wheel. Overlying the upper semi-circular path of the wheel are spaced flap-bending members IB which terminate in rearward resilient extensions Il overhanging a pair of counterpart book holders i8 which are supported by the main frame and are provided with upwardly and rearwardly inclined spring bottom plates I9, as usual. The cover iiam of each succeeding pair of books in their intermittent travel to the extension are angularly flexed and then, while the wheel is at rest, the books are endwise ejected from the pockets of the wheel by the action of a reciprocating plunger 20. This plunger advances the successive pairs of books beneath the extensions I'I in a manner to effect the folding of the respective flaps flatwise upon the contained matches, and at the same time the leading books are positioned in the respective book holders. The books are discharged in pairs from the wheel I 3 in similar end- Wise and face arrangement, the larger or headed ends of the matches leading and the fold aps of the covers being upward.

As herein illustrated the book holders I8 include suitably-spaced slotted walls ZI and a base member 22 therefor, the whole supported by a bed 23 extending rearwardly from the brackets I4. The inclined plates i9 are secured at their lower ends to the bed and the higher or free ends of the plates extend into the respective holders so as to afford a resilient support for the match books introduced in the holders.

Overhanging the wheel I3 is a four-motion tucker arm 24 having a downwardly extending bifurcated portion 25carrying friction blocks 26, preferably of rubber, in proximity to the flaps of 5 the match books which are seated in the holders. The blocks 26 by actuation of the tucker arm are effective to bear upon the underlying folded cover flaps (f) of each succeeding pair of books and tuck the free ends of the flaps under the retaining folds (a) at the narrow ends of the respective books.

Mechanism such as shown in Patent No. 1,042,472 may be employed to reciprocate the arm 24 lengthwise and at determined intervals in its reciprocation to eifect the rising and permit the falling motion of the arm relatively to the cover iiap. In the present instance the means for effecting the vertical motion of the arm 24 includes a reciproeative lifter bar 2 which suitably supports the arm adjacent its bifurcated portion.

In Patent No. 1,042,472 aforesaid the lower end of each of the limbs 25 of the bifurcated tucker arm supports the friction block 26 which centrally acts upon the underlying flap, but as hereinbefore mentioned the curling tendency oi the cover material, particularly when varnished, may impair the efciency of the tucking operation.

According to my present invention I provide each of the tucker limbs with spaced friction members arranged and adapted to be brought in close Contact with the opposing longitudinal edges of the underlying cover flap when the central friction member is lowered, thus remaining during the tucking stroke and obviating liability of the upward curling of the edges of the flap.

In the present instance the foot of each of the tucker limbs 25 is provided with a horizontal cross-bar 28 having depending end members 29, which bar overhangs the adjacent book holder. On the underside of the bar midway between its ends is a fixed rib 3B to which is secured the depending friction block Z3, which is preferably of rubber. Fastened to the inner sides of the respective end members 29 are friction blocks 3l, also preferably of rubber, having depending portions which are downwardly and outwardly bevelled on their inner faces, as at 32, such faces being so disposed as to embrace the opposing edges of the proximate cover flap coincidentally with the impact of the central block 26 on the aps, as seen in Fig. 5. Thus it will be seen the bevelled faces of the blocks 3i not only tend to deflect the opposing edges of the flap slightly downward as indicated, but they also co-act with the central block to impart a positive and uniform tucking motion to the flap.

I preferably mount in the bottom of each book holder I3 a pair of elongated friction pads 33, preferably of rubber, which are constructed and arranged to register with apertures 34 in the resilient book supporting plate I9 when the plate is depressed by the book during the tucking operation. The pads 33 present to the opposing surface of the book cover a plurality of relatively large friction areas which obviate displacement of the book without marring the surface.

As herein shown the vertical sides of the elastic pads are longitudinally grooved, as at 35, and the upper surface of the base 22 is provided with parallel under-cut slots 36 which receive the respective pads and interlock with the grooves of the latter, as clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5. Thus the pads can be readily mounted on or detached from the base, as occasion may require.

I claim- 1. The combination of means for supporting a match book having an open cover ap and a retaining portion for the free end of the ap, and a tucking element overhanging said supporting 'means and having a longitudinal and vertical motion relatively to the flap of an underlying book, said element including pressure means thereon which bear against the body and at least one of the longitudinal edges of the opposing flap of said book during the effective motion of said element.

2. The combination of means for supporting a match book having an open cover flap and a retaining portion for the free end of the flap, and a tucking element overhanging said supporting means and having a longitudinal and vertical motion relatively to the flap of an underlying book. said element including depending pressure members arranged in spaced relation to bear against the body and the longitudinal edges of the opposing iiap of said book during the efl fective motion of said element.

3. The combination of means for supporting a match book having an open cover flap and a retaining portion for the free end of the flap, and a tucking element over-hanging said supporting means and having a longitudinal and vertical motion relatively to the flap of an underlying book, said element including depending members having oppositely bevelled surfaces arranged to bear against the longitudinal edges of the flap during the effective motion of said element, and including also an intermediate depending member which coincidentally bears upon the body of the iiap.

4. In tucking means for the cover flaps of match books, a tucking element having flap positioning members for acting upon the longitudinal edges of the flap during the eiective motion of said element.

5. In tucking means for the cover flaps of match books, a tucking element having flap positioning members for acting upon the longitudinal edges of the flap during the effective motion of said element, said members comprising depending blocks of yieldable material having oppositely bevelled acting surfaces.

CHARLES F. WRIGHT. 

